Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Pamela nodded. She had tried to avoid this topic with her grandmother. When her kids clocked a year, after the birthday party that year, her grandmother said she was ready to get a man.

It wasn't going to affect her education at all. Then she told him that men had hurt her and she doesn't want to get involved with any man again.

Besides, what does she need a man for? All a man can offer her, she already has it. Men should stay in their space while she keeps her distance.

Now, her grandmother saying it again implies that she was insisting on seeing her married. What can she do about it then?

Clarion Johnson smiled and kissed Pamela's temple. She caressed her hair and announced to her that they were going to accompany her back to Oak City for a few weeks before returning to Middletown City.

Pamela was excited. This is the best news she's ever heard. She would be glad to have her grandparents and the set of D4 with her.

Now, it would be suitable for her to begin her preparation to return. Clarion Johnson saw how happy Pamela was, she smiled, kissed her temple again and left her in an ecstatic mood.

Pamela squinted. They needed to build a palace, a mini kind of palace to house them when they return. And the ideal spot where she wants that building to be erected came to her mind.

She grinned and picked up her phone. She would give an order and that would be all. She called the construction company handling her company's building and told them what they should do.

Next morning in Oak City, Freya was awakened by the noise of the doorbell. What the heck, who was it that wouldn't let her have a peaceful sleep?

She groggily opened her eyes and looked at the bedside clock, it's past 6:00 in the morning. This definitely would be Emma.

For sometime now, she hadn't stopped coming to her and sobbing, telling her Lucas had stopped being a filia husband and father to her and Albert.

But whatever is the matter with her and Lucas so early in the morning,she could wait and tell her about it later and not for her to come at the time the cock was yet to crow.

She violently shook Freddie and the latter jolted out of sleep. Freya eyed him, he sleeps and snores like a pig. He could sleep and wouldn't know when he would be kidnapped from the bed and thrown into the bush.

Freddie opened his eyes and glared at his wife. This she-devil wouldn't let him sleep in peace. She would make his day horrible and now, she had condescended so low to making his sleep horrible as well.

"Are you crazy or something? Why did you…?" Freddie was going to continue when the doorbell started ringing loudly again.

"Yes, my craziness began after I was awakened by the doorbell. You can see that you also acted crazy when I woke you up. That's how crazy we both have become" Freya declared and climbed out of bed.

Freddie hissed between gritted teeth. He got out of bed and went to the sitting room. It doesn't make sense at all, that a sensible person would be at someone's door so early.

When he peeped through the little opening, he saw three men standing. Whatever, he opened the door and let the men walk in.

The men introduced themselves and said they had come to inform Freddie and his family that he has an hour to vacate the building.

By 8:00am, the building is coming down and they are beginning the erection of another building.

Puzzled, Freddie thought he was dreaming. He opened his eyes wide and shook his head to be sure he was indeed awake.

But the men who came gave a document to sign. He threw the document away and told them they got the wrong address. The place the men thought they are is not where they are going.

"This is Freddie Grayson's apartment, right? Situated at No23XX downtown street, Oak City, right?" One of the men asked.

Freddie was taken aback. That is correct. Had the men gone crazy to come to his house so early to rant nonsense?

"Are you guys stupid or something? How can you walk into someone's house and him, to vacate his house in an hour's time. You should go elsewhere and not come here to talk nonsense…"Freddie was bashing them words when Freya came over to see what was happening.

"What is going on here so early in the morning?" She asked, walking over and standing by her husband.

Freddie turned to her and explained what the men said. He pointed to the document on the floor and said he was told to sign it.

Freya flared up. She called the men a bunch of rascals. She said they are a bunch of good for nothing bastards. She kept using unhealthy words at them that even Freddie felt she was going beyond boundaries.

"Like you've been rightly told, this building is coming down in the nearest hour. Until we return, have a pleasant good morning" the men concluded and walked away.

Freddie and Freya exchanged glances. They didn't say anything about the harsh words from them, especially Freya's words?

They went away, confident that they would be back to demolish their house, the only property they laid claim to. Besides that house, there's nothing else they can call their own.

Freya got the documents and without thinking about it,tore it in two. She hissed and went to the kitchen. She needed to prepare breakfast and filled her churning stomach.

Freddie became uncomfortable. He decided to call a lawyer. These people might be real. They might carry on with their threat. He needed to do something.

His lawyer didn't answer his phone. His official time to respond to clients is 8:00am. He's got a life to live outside his profession.

A quarter to 8:00 am, a few cars drove to Grayson's house and parked. Some men stepped out, dressed in exquisite suits and talked in whispers.

Some documents were brought and both parties signed. They talked more in whispers and next, they shook hands. Freddie stood akimbo in front of his house.

Who dares to come any closer to his house. He would contend with them. They can choose to talk in whispers, that is not his business at all.

This house was his and no one was going to make me vacate it. He was still engrossed in his narrow minded thoughts when both parties of the men slid into their cars and drove off.

It wasn't quite five minutes later, a bulldozer arrived and with its loud honk, he made his way towards the building…

Lucas was on his way to the office when his phone rang. It was Emma calling. He sneered. He hadn't had a perfect marriage with her after he discovered that Albert wasn't his son.

He no longer has any intimate time with Emma. He has found himself another woman,a mistress who takes care of his desires and needs.

Emma was just there in name and title. But his time and heart is with his new woman. He was simply waiting for an opportunity to divorce Emma and bring Nelly in.

He was already arranging for the divorce. It would be his end of the year present to Emma. The new year comes with its prospect and starting his life with Nelly is all that mattered to him.

And to say the least, Emma refused to admit to the truth. She wouldn't open up and confess that Albert was someone else's son. She's stupid and senseless.

Seeing her call, he reluctantly answered his phone. "Lucas, mum and dad just called me. My parents' house has been demolished.."Emma's voice was shaking.

Lucas squinted. What would have happened to result in such an act? How can they suddenly be demolished and they are not informed beforehand?

"Where are you now?" Lucas asked, still unable to fathom what is going on. Emma said she's home with Albert. The latter was unwell, another crisis the previous evening and the result of it is that he wouldn't be able to go to school.

Lucas instructed her to meet up with him at his parents' place. He then made a U-turn and went in the direction of Grayson's house.

When Lucas arrived there, what he saw was a rumple of sand and iron in the place where the once beautiful house stood. He stepped out of the car and saw Freddie and Freya, trying to talk at the top of their voice.

Their lawyer had finally arrived. He probably drove straight to the venue when he was called. He was dressed in a suit and his wig was in his hand. He probably has a court hearing that morning.

Lucas came closer and Emma also arrived. The men working seemed not to be interested in the people nor what they were saying.

The lawyer called one of the men and asked a few questions. But the response he got was that they were only doing the work they were instructed to do.

If they needed someone to answer their questions, they could contact the construction company, handling the project.

The men continued with their work. The site was immediately being cleared up from the heap of rubbish the demolished building had created.

Seeing this is not something they can handle just now, Freddie's lawyer instructed them to get their luggage and find a place to put up. He would investigate and get back to them.

That was when Freddie and Freya realised that they didn't bring a needle out of the house. When they heard the noise of the bulldozer, they ran out of the house to avoid being wasted along with it.

The lawyer didn't wait another minute. He had a case to defend in the court in forty minutes from that time, he had to leave immediately.

Lucas already frowned. Are they going to move into his house? He was planning on how to send their daughter away from the house and now, her parents would move in?

He pretended to go away but Emma called him back: